Grant will help connect thousands of Oregonians to services, including health care

PRESS RELEASE
March 23, 2010

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Portland, OR – An $85,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust to 211info is laying the groundwork for a system that freely and efficiently connects people to essential services, such as health care and shelter, across Oregon.

The grant funds 211info’s efforts to bring 2-1-1, the FCC designated phone number for referrals to health and community services, to every Oregon county by 2013. Efforts are currently underway to bring several Oregon counties – including Lane and Jackson – service this year. 211info is conducting additional outreach this April and May to identify interest in 2-1-1 services among unserved Oregon counties.

“The country is abuzz about health care reform – yet the reality is far too many Oregonians aren’t aware of the services available to them or they reach out and get lost in a system that is fragmented and confusing,” states 211info CEO Liesl Wendt. “2-1-1 helps cut through this clutter and the Meyer Memorial Trust recognizes every Oregonian deserves the service.”

At the March program meeting Meyer Memorial Trust trustees awarded 16 grants for approximately $1.5 million. These awards bring the total since MMT began operating in April 1982 to 6,084 awards for $496.9 million. 211info is also building on momentum provided by an Oregon Community Foundation grant for statewide 2-1-1 expansion earlier in the year.

Currently, 2-1-1 service exists in seven Oregon counties in the Portland metro area, Yamhill and Central Oregon (Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook) – covering nearly half of Oregon’s population. Last year, the organization was contacted more than 260,000 times online and through the phones for referrals to both basic services, such as utility assistance, and services unique to the economic collapse, such as foreclosure assistance. Nationwide, 28 states have statewide 2-1-1 coverage and overall 2-1-1 coverage extends to more than 80% of Americans.

211info is also a recent nominee for the Multnomah County Public Health Hero award.

About 211info
211info is a nonprofit that connects the people of Oregon and Southwest Washington to the community resources they need. 211info operates 2-1-1 -- the free, the easy-to-remember health and community helpline, in addition to maintaining an online database with more than 4,200 resources. 2-1-1 coverage extends to seven counties in Oregon and four counties in Southwest Washington. 211info is leading Oregon’s efforts to join 28 other states that provide statewide 2-1-1 coverage.

211info is a strategic partner of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. For more information, visit www.211info.org.

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